Third case of human West Nile reported in South Montgmery County

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, August 27, 2006

All three reported human cases in Montgomery County are of the human neuroinvasive strain of the West Nile virus, according to a Montgomery County Environmental Health Service press release.

West Nile fever has mild symptoms, such as the flu, and can be treated. West Nile neuroinvasive disease can cause meningitis-like symptoms without treatment options, said Gary Johnson, zoonosis control specialist with the Department of State Health Services' Houston office.

"It's a viral disease," Johnson said about the neuroinvasive strain. "There is no vaccine or treatment for it. It's just supportive care."

The risk is very low that someone will contract West Nile, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Web site, www.dshs.state.tx.us. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, very few mosquitoes are infected with the virus. A person bitten by an infected mosquito has a less than 1 percent chance of becoming severely ill, according the Web site.

Birds get West Nile before mosquitoes because it is in their bloodstream, according to the Web site. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. The infected mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals when biting to take blood because the virus is located in their salivary glands, according to the Web site.

"It's just that time of year," Johnson said. "People need to take precautions."

Precautions include the three D's: Avoid going out at dusk and dawn, dress appropriately with long sleeves and pants, wear DEET and drain standing water.

"The best thing for the citizens of Montgomery County to do is be proactive by following general procedures for using mosquito repellant," Montgomery County Environmental Health Services Director Pat Buzbee stated in a department press release. "Wear protective clothing when outdoors and make sure no attractive breeding sources exist in their immediate environment.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and to keep the public informed. Our county commissioners have been staying on top of the situation as well, and we will keep them updated with the information we get from the state health authorities."

Montgomery County has had 28 reported cases so far this year, including the three human cases, according to www.dshs.state.tx.us. In 2005, there were 26 reported cases, including six human cases. With 30 cases in 2004, there was one involving a person. In 2003, there were 46 cases, including 17 human cases. And in 2002, there were 42 cases, including seven people.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance said mosquito-breeding areas, such as standing water and culverts, are pinpointed and sprayed, but the spray only kills mosquitoes it touches.

"We will continue to treat the way we do now," Chance said.

He said people can call his officer to report heavily infected areas and it will be sprayed.

So far this year, there have been 351 cases in 38 Texas counties, with a total of 83 human cases and nine reported deaths, Johnson said.

Since 2002, there have been 888 human West Nile virus cases in Texas and 71 deaths, according to www.dshs.state.tx.us. The first human death in Texas occurred in August 2002.